to think the poor staff in M&S cafes shouldn't have to wear hideous hair nets?

[bibbitybobbityyhat]

Having a reviving coffee in M&S with dd yesterday, and noticed the staff were wearing a horrible contraption like a baseball cap with a built-in hair net as part of their uniform. Why is this necessary? It isn't a bloody factory and anyway I can't imagine waiting staff or even food prep staff at the Ritz having to do this. Poor women, they just looked a bit gruesome I'm afraid. And infact they both had their hair tied back in pony tails inside the nets.

Aibu to think this is ott from a food hygiene pov? Neither were wearing gloves (again absolutely fine by me) and surely most "risk" comes from being served by people with dirty hands.

[ceeveebee]

Probably had one too many complaints about hairs in the food!

[PinkSparklyPussyCat]

It's nothing new. My first job was in a bakers and I had to wear a hair net. I'd rather see staff wearing hair nets than end up with hair in my food!

[bibbitybobbityyhat]

Really pspc? You'd rather see all waiting staff in all food outlets and restaurants wearing a black nylon baseball cap with a hairnet attached?

Ok then.

[Archer26]

I agree they aren't the most flattering but as a pp says, rather that than hair in my food.

Also congrats op on managing to get so much sarcasm in such an innocuous reply.

[MuttonDressedAsMutton]

YABU for having coffee in Marks & Spencer's. It is a department store not a coffee shop. I am always at people who have coffee in Debenhams, BHS, M &S. Why? Just go to a coffee shop - an independent one if you can.

[bibbitybobbityyhat]

Lol!

[MotherKat]

They switch between counter service an kitchen where nets are a requirement.
The caps are in my personal opinion considerably more comfortable than a traditional net and cap that were the standard when I started in the kitchens.

[PseudoBadger]

As said previously they are multi-tasking - serving, prepping, cooking and cleaning. Because they work for a big company they have a uniform and equipment like hairnets. Staff in smaller cafes who do similar should be doing the same, but probably won't. M&S can make their staff do it...

[Sparklingbrook]

Marks and Spencers coffee shops are rubbish. Did you know you can't have a bacon sandwich without butter on in them?

And the service is soooo slooooow.

But as for the hairnets, better than hairy food.

[liz70]

Having found a large hair on my food in a cafe once, I think all people who prepare and/or serve food should have their hair completely covered. They're not posing for a fricking glossy magazine.

[bibbitybobbityyhat]

Yes, your point is what I'm getting at liz70. If it is not the law then I feel sorry for the staff in M&S. Why don't all cooks/chefs/waiting staff/Maitre D's at The Chiltern Firehouse have to cover their hair?

I don't often have a coffee in there, btw, but believe me there aren't many chi chi independent coffee shops in the rough old part of South East London where we were shopping yesterday. And we were pushed for time. Although why I am apologising for having a coffee in a cafe I really have no idea!

[pizzaeatingmonkey]

After 25 years of working in chain restaurants I took over a small independent cafe. I discovered that, legally, as long as hair is off the face and well groomed you don't need to wear a hat.
In 3 years we never had one complaint of hair in food where previously it was a monthly complaint.
I think hats cause the head to sweat and irritate and staff are likely to fiddle with them causing hair to come out.

[Beth2511]

I am a manager for greggs and we have to wear hairnets. They dont look nice but they don't cause any bother and you forget all about them once they are on

[bibbitybobbityyhat]

I think its a shame for you too Beth. I'll have a peek at the owners of the artisan bakery opposite my work later and see if they are wearing hairnets.

Dammit, now I want a really hot cheese and onion pasty !

[Leelu6]

YABU. I'm considering getting DH to wear a hairnet when he cooks.

Rogue short hair in food when he cooks sometimes.

[MotherKat]

The rule when I started was if it was longer than an inch you netted and capped it, and this was in some pretty naice restaurants.

[Katedotness1963]

Everyone in food service should be wearing a hairnet!

[bibbitybobbityyhat]

I am now going to take note everywhere I go!

[SnuffleGruntSnorter]

Is it just the staff in M&S and the artisan bakery you're concerned about or would you have he same sympathy for those working in Greggs and the morrisons cafe, OP?

[LonnyVonnyWilsonFrickett]

Cooks and chefs at the Chiltern should have their hair covered.

Waiting staff not so much as they shouldn't be standing over the food and fussing with it.

[bibbitybobbityyhat]

I refer you back to my post at 10.03.20 snuffle. Sorry to piss on your chips because you were hoping to make me out to be a terrible snob weren't you?

[Thymeout]

I think hair nets are the least of their problems. Who on earth thought lime green was a good colour for staff uniform?

[ouryve]

I don't think there's any suffering involved in wearing a hairnet. No one is being tortured. They're getting paid, probably a little better than a lot of people doing similar jobs. They don't need pity for wearing something that offends your own vanity.

I agree that waiting in the queue is torture, though, as they're so slow and inefficient. In the big one in Newcastle, there's usually more old men reserving tables than people sat eating. I just grab a sarnie from the food hall and a (somewhat nicer) coffee from Pret and go and sit somewhere with something to look at (though, as I'm usually with DS1, that tends to be a bus station!)